Automatic bale hoist

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for automatically engaging, clamping and raising an article from a first position, swinging the article to a predetermined position, lowering and unclamping the article in a second position and then returning the apparatus to its original position. The apparatus includes means for performing the several functions sequentially and for stopping the operation of the apparatus after the functions have been completed.

waited States Patent Inventor Joseph I. McCormick P.O. Box 278, England, Ark. 70246 Appl. No. 30,402

Filed Apr. 21, 1970 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 AUTOMATIC BALE HOIST 3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 214/1 BD, 214/147 G, 214/] BC Int. Cl B66c 1/44 Field of Search 214/ 147 G,

147 R, 1 ED [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,319,813 5/1967 Beyea 214/147GX 3,476,266 11/1969 Devol 214/147 6 X 3,062,388 11/1962 Hunter... 214/1 BC 3,252,609 5/1966 Ellis 214/653 X Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Att0rneysA. Yates Dowell and A. Yates Dowell, .lr.

ABSTRACT: Apparatus for automatically engaging, clamping and raising an article from a first position, swinging the article to a predetermined position, lowering and unclamping the article in a second position and then returning the apparatus to its original position. The apparatus includes means for performing the several functions sequentially and for stopping the operation of the apparatus after the functions have been completed.

PATENTEDJAN 4m SHEET 1 OF 3 INVEI kroR dos/52H A ,wmiM/a/r AUTOMATIC BALE nors'r BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to article-handling equipment and relates particularly to apparatus for transferring relatively large objects, such as a bale of cotton, from a first position to a second position and then returning the apparatus to a position for engaging another article.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore, many devices have been provided for transferring relatively large objects from one position to another, including forklift trucks, overhead monorail conveyor systems, lift structures such as booms of various kinds; however, these prior art structures have not been satisfactory since they have been complicated, expensive to purchase and maintain, have required a skilled operator, and some devices have required one or more skilled or unskilled laborers in addition to the skilled operator.

In the handling of cotton bales, a forklift truck having special grappling hooks, as illustrated by the US Pat. to Perry No. 2,828,880, normally is employed to remove bales of cotton from a conveyor associated with a cotton press and transfer such bales to a storage area where the bales are stacked for subsequent shipping. Each forklift truck has required a skilled operator and has entailed a substantial loss in time while transferring the bale from the press to the storage area and back again. Also, the hooks engaging the bale of cotton have sometimes ripped the burlap covering and broken the bands of the bale so that the compressed cotton has been unintentionally discharged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a bale hoist which automatically removes a bale of cotton from the press conveyor, rotates to a predetermined position, places the bale on a truck or other conveying means, and then returns to the initial position ready for another bale. The apparatus includes a sequentially operated hydraulic system which relies upon the weight of the bale during certain function to insure the correct sequence of operations.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bale hoist which will automatically remove a relatively large bale from one position, transfer the bale to a second position, and then return to its initial position ready to engage another bale.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article-handling apparatus having a sequentially operated hydraulic system which relies upon the weight of the article to insure the proper sequence of operation during certain phases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof at a reduced scale.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation with portions broken away and taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating the boom raising and lowering mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the dipstick and illustrating the bale clamping mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a hydraulic layout.

FIG. 9 is a schematic of a typical sequence type hydraulic valve illustrating the flow of fluid in one direction.

FIG. 10 is a schematic similar to FIG. 9 illustrating the flow of fluid in the reverse direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, after cotton has been ginned, it is introduced into a press 10 where it is wrapped in a covering of any desired material, such as burlap or the like,

and several metal bands are applied to retain the cotton in compressed condition. When the bale 11 has been completed, such bale is discharged from the press 10 onto a conveyor 12 which moves the bale from the area of the press. The structure thus far described is conventional in the prior art and forms no part of the present invention.

Adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor 12, a hollow tubular post 15 is provided having a baseplate 16 which can be fixed directly to the floor so that the device is stationary, or such baseplate could be fixed to the floor of a vehicle such as a truck or the like so that the device could be mobile. A mast I7 is rotatably received within the upper portion of the post 15 in any desired manner as by a bearing 18 to permit rotary motion therebetween, while substantially preventing vertical movement of the mast relative to the post. At the upper end of the mast 17, a pair of lugs 19 are provided to which a boom 20 is swingably mounted in a generally vertical plane by means of a pivot pin 21.

The boom 20 extends outwardly from the mast l7 and is provided at its outer end with a pivot pin 22 or fwhich a dipstick 23 is freely swingably mounted at its upper end. In order to raise and lower the dipstick 23, a pair of fluid cylinders 24 and 25 are connected end to end in abutting generally coextensive relationship. Fluid cylinder 24 has a piston rod 26 the outer end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 27 to one or more lugs 28 mounted on the mast l7 and fluid under pressure is supplied to and removed from such cylinder through fluid lines 29 and 30. Fluid cylinder 25 has a piston rod 31 the outer end of which is connected by a pin 32 to one or more lugs 33 carried by the lower portion of the boom 20. Fluid under pres sure is supplied to and removed from the cylinder 25 through fluid lines 34 and 35 in a manner that will be described later.

At the lower end of the dipstick 23, a crossbar 40 having spaced generally parallel arms 41 is welded or otherwise attached and such arms can be of any desired length although a length generally corresponding to the width of a bale of cotton 11 has been found satisfactory. The opposite ends of the arms 41 are connected by a pivot pin 42 to the intermediate portion of a lever or bellcrank 43. A bale-engaging pad 44 is welded or otherwise fixed to the lower end of each of the levers 43. In order to operate the levers 43 and the move the pads 44 into and out of clamping engagement with the bale 11, a fluid cylinder 45 is mounted on the dipstick 23 and such cylinder has a piston rod 46 pivotally connected at its outer end to one end of a pair of links 47. The opposite end of each of the links 47 is pivotally connected by a pin 48 to the upper end of one of the levers 43 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Fluid under pressure is introduced into and removed from the cylinder 45 by a pair of fluid lines 49 and 50.

In order to rotate the mast l7 and swing the boom 20 from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, a reversible fluid motor 53 is mounted on a base member 54 fixed to the post 15. The

motor 53 has a drive shaft 55 on which a sprocket 56 is mounted and such sprocket is drivingly connected by a chain 57 to a driven sprocket 58 fixed to the mast l7. Fluid under pressure is introduced into and discharged from the motor 53 through fluid lines 59 and 60.

With reference to the hydraulic system illustrated in FIG. 8, an electric or other type motor 61 drives a pump 62 which is in communication with a reservoir or other source of supply 63 by a line 64. Fluid under pressure is discharged from the pump 62 through a line 65 to a conventional distributor valve or directional control valve 68 having a selectively operated spindle (not shown). Such spindle is adapted to be operated in any desired manner, as by solenoid 70 energized by a switch or trigger 71 located adjacent to the conveyor 12 in a position to be activated by a bale 11. When the solenoid is energized, the spindle will be shifted toward one side of the distributor valve 68 against the tension of a spring (not shown). In this position, fluid under pressure will be discharged from the distributor valve 68 through a port 73 and a line 74 to a T-connection 75.

Fluid line 34 is connected to one side of the T-connection 75 and a pressure operated adjustable sequence valve 76 is in communication with the other side of such T-connection 75 by a line 77. Pressure of the sequence valve 76 is sufficiently high that fluid will pass through the line 34 to the fluid cylinder 25 and retract the piston rod 31 to lower the boom 20. Fluid within the cylinder 25 will be discharged through the line 35 to a T connection 78 which is connected by a line 79 to a port 80 on the distributor valve 68 and then through a discharge line 81 back to the reservoir 63. When the piston of lo the piston rod 31 has bottomed or reached the end of its stroke, or the crossbar 40 has engaged the top of the bale 11 to prevent further retraction of the piston rod 31, fluid pressure will overcome the sequence valve 76 and will flow through a line 82 to a T-connection 83.

Fluid line 49 is connected to one of the T-connection 83 and a pressure operated adjustable sequence valve 84 is in communication with the other side of such T-connection by a line 85. Fluid pressure will first be diverted through the line 49 to extend the piston rod 46 and cause the pads 44 to clampingly engage the bale 1 1. Fluid in the opposite end of the cylinder 45 will be discharged through the fluid line 50 to the T-connection 78 and back to the reservoir. Pressure continues to build within the cylinder 45 until a predetermined pressure has been applied to the pads 44 at which time pressure will overcome the sequence valve 84 and permit fluid to flow through a line 86 to a T-connection 87. The fluid line 29 is connected to one side of the T-connection 87 and a fluid line 88 connects the opposite side of such T-connection to a pressure operated adjustable sequence valve 89. Fluid under pressure will pass through the fluid line 29 into the upper portion of the cylinder 24 and cause such fluid cylinder to move relative to the piston rod 26 to raise the boom 20 with the bale clamped to the end of the dipstick 23.

During the movement of the fluid cylinder 24, fluid will be discharged from the opposite end of such cylinder through the line 30 to one side of a cross-connection 90. Two other sides of the cross-connection 90 are interposed in the line 79 while the fourth side of such cross-connection is connected by a line 91 to a pressure operated adjustable sequence valve 92. Since the pressure within the line 30 is not sufficient to operate the sequence valve 92, the fluid will be discharged through the line 79, port 80 and discharge line 81 back to the reservoir 63.

When the fluid cylinder 24 reaches the end of its stroke, the bale 11 will have been lifted from the conveyor 12 and thereafter fluid will overcome the sequence valve 89 and will pass through the fluid line 59 to the fluid motor 53. Fluid under pressure will operate the fluid motor 53 and cause the mast 17 to be rotated by the chain 57. Fluid passing through the fluid motor 53 is discharged through the fluid line 60 to the return side of the sequence valve 92, and is discharged through the line 91 to the cross-connection 90 and then through the line 79, port 80 and discharge line 81 back to the reservoir.

In order to limit the rotational movement of the mast 17, a pair of spaced lugs 95 and 96 are welded or otherwise attached to the post15 in predetermined locations and a depending arm 97 is welded or otherwise attached to the mast 17 and arranged in a manner to engage the lugs 95 and 96 alternately. When the fluid motor 53 is operated in one direction, the mast will rotate and cause the arm 97 to leave the lug 95 and continue to rotate until the arm 97 engages the lug 96 which stops further rotation. the mast is prevented, the pressure within the distributor valve 68 will build up until the pressure is substantially equal on both sides of the spindle which will permit the spring in such distributor valve to return the spindle to its initial position since the solenoid 70 was deenergized when the bale 11 was raised out of engagement with the switch 71.

When the spindle is shifted, fluid under pressure will be com nected to the port 80 and will pass through the line 79 to the cross-connection 90 and the T-connection 78, while the port 73 will be in communication with the discharge line 81. In this When further rotation of 55 position fluid lines 30, 35 and 50 all are open; however, due to the weight of the boom 20, dipstick 23, and bale 11, fluid under pressure will be diverted through the line 30 into the fluid cylinder 24 to lower the boom 20. Fluid from the opposite side of the fluid cylinder 24 will be discharged through the fluid line 29 to the port 73 which is connected to the discharge line 81 and then back to the reservoir 63. When the boom has been lowered, fluid will be diverted through the line.

50 to relieve the clamping pressure on the bale by operating the fluid cylinder 45 in a reverse direction. Fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder 45 will be discharged through the fluid line 49 to the port 73 and through the distributor valve 68 and the discharge line 81 back to the reservoir.

After the cylinder 45 has completed its stroke, fluid is diverted through the fluid line 35 to the fluid cylinder 25 to cause the piston rod 31 to be extended and thereby raise the boom 20 so that the clamping mechanism carried by the crossbar 40 is moved away from the bale 11. When the boom has been raised, fluid will no longer be able to pass through the lines 30, 35 and 50 and therefore a pressure buildup will occur which will overcome the sequence valve 92 and direct fluid through the line 60 to the fluid motor 53. Fluid passing through the fluid motor will be returned through the line 59, through the port 73 of the distributor valve 68 and then through the discharge line 81 back to the reservoir. As the fluid passes through the motor, the drive shaft 55 is operated in a reverse direction from that previously described so that the sprocket 56 drives the sprocket 58 and rotates the mast 17 to cause the depending arm 97 to leave the lug 96 and such mast continues to rotate until the arm 97 engages the lug to prevent further rotation.

In this position the boom 20 has returned to its initial location ready to engage the next bale 11. After the boom has been stopped by the lug 95, the fluid pressure within the distributor valve 68 reaches equilibrium and causes the spindle to shift to a neutral position so that the fluid entering the distributor valve through the line 67 is diverted through the discharge line 81 and returns to the reservoir 63. When another bale of cotton has been prepared and trips the switch 71, the solenoid 70 again is operated and the process is repeated.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a typical pressure operated adjustable sequence valve is disclosed and since all of the sequence valves 76, 84 89 and 92 are substantially the same, only the valve 76 will be described. This sequence valve includes a body 98 having a first passageway 99 and a second passageway 100 substantially at right angles to each other. A piston 101 is slidably mounted in a counterbore 102 in alignment with the passageway 100 and normally is held in a position to block passageways 99 and 100 by a spring 103. An adjustable plug 104 is provided for adjusting the tension on the spring 103. An L-shaped bypass 105 connects the passageways 99 and 100 and a piston 106 slidably mounted in a bore 107 in alignment with one leg of the bypass 105 normally blocks the passage of fluid through such bypass. The piston 106 is urged toward closed position by a spring 108 the tension of which is adjusted by a plug 109.

In the illustrated example, after the boom 20 has been lowered by the fluid cylinder 25, pressure builds up in the line 77 and initially is blocked by the pistons 101 and 106. When the pressure has reached a predetermined value sufficient to overcome the spring 108, the piston 106 is unseated so that fluid can flow through the bypass 105 into the fluid line 82 to operate the next fluid cylinder. After the first sequence of operations has been completed, pressures on the line 77 is relieved and the spring 108 closes the bypass 105. As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the device is passing through the second sequence of operation, fluid under pressure is introduced through the line 82 into the passageway 100 and unseats the piston 101 against the tension of the spring 103 so that fluid can pass through the passageway 99 and the line 77 back to the reservoir.

In the operation of the device, a bale of cotton or other large object is moved along the conveyor 12 until it engages the switch 71 to simultaneously deenergize the conveyor and energize the solenoid 70 to activate the hydraulic system of the apparatus. First the boom 20 is lowered by the fluid cylinder 25, and then the cylinder 45 is operated to clamp the bale by the pads 44, and then the fluid cylinder 24 is operated to raise the boom 20 and the bale. As soon as the boom has been raised, the mast is rotated substantially 90 after which the boom is lowered with the assistance of the weight of the boom, dipstick and bale, the pads 44 are relieved of the pressure of the bale, the boom is raised, and then the mast is rotated in the reverse direction to return the boom to its initial position ready for the next bale. The operations are carried out automatically and sequentially without the necessity of an operator being present.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically transferring a bale of material from one position to another comprising a fixed post, a mast rotatably mounted on said post, fluid motor means mounted on one of said post and mast for rotating said mast relative to said post, means for limiting the rotation of said mast relative to said post, boom means swingably mounted at one end to said mast, first and second fluid cylinder means mounted in end-to-end relationship with each other and connecting said boom means and said mast for swinging said boom means in a generally vertical direction, each of said first and second cylinder means being independently operable to swing said boom means through substantially its entire vertical movement, dipstick means freely swingably mounted on the opposite end of said boom means, bale-clamping means carried by said dipstick means, third fluid cylinder means on said dipstick means for operating said bale-clamping means, a fluid system connecting said first, second and third cylinder means and said fluid motor means to a source of fluid under pressure in a manner that the work of each of said cylinder means and motor means is completed before the next succeeding means can operate, said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a first sequence during a first phase of operation, means for reversing the flow of fluid in said fluid system, said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a second sequence during a second phase of operation, and switch means to initate operation of said fluid system.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the application of fluid under pressure for controlling the sequence of operation during the second phase is the force induced by the weight carried by said boom means being transmitted through the first, second and third cylinder means.

3. In an automatic bale transfer apparatus having a post, a mast rotatably mounted on said post, a boom swingably mounted at one end on said mast, a dipstick freely swingably mounted on the opposite end of said boom; the improvement comprising an automatic sequentially operated fluid system including first and second fluid cylinder means mounted in end-to-end relationship with each other and connecting said boom and said mast for swinging said boom in a generally vertical direction, each of said first and second cylinder means being independently operably for swinging said boom substantially through its entire vertical movement, bale-clamping means mounted on said dipstick, third fluid cylinder means for operating said bale-clamping means, fluid motor means mounted on one of said post and mast for rotating said mast relative to said post, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid system, means for operating said first, second and third fluid cylinder means and said fluid motor means in a manner that the work of each of said cylinder means and motor means is completed before the next succeeding means can operate, said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a first sequence during a first phase of operation, means for reversing the flow of fluid in said fluid system, and said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a second sequence dunng a second phase of operation, so that said boom will be lowered and the bale will be clamped, raised and transferred to a difi'erent position during the first phase of operation and the bale will be lowered and released and the apparatus returned to its original position during the second phase of operation. 

1. Apparatus for automatically transferring a bale of material from one position to another comprising a fixed post, a mast rotatably mounted on said post, fluid motor means mounted on one of said post and mast for rotating said mast relative to said post, means for limiting the rotation of said mast relative to said post, boom means swingably mounted at one end to said mast, first and second fluid cylinder means mounted in end-to-end relationship with each other and connecting said boom means and said mast for swinging said boom means in a generally vertical direction, each of said first and second cylinder means being independently operable to swing said boom means through substantially its entire vertical movement, dipstick means freely swingably mounted on the opposite end of said boom means, baleclamping means carried by said dipstick means, third fluid cylinder means on said dipstick means for operating said baleclamping means, a fluid system connecting said first, second and third cylinder means and said fluid motor means to a source of fluid under pressure in a manner that the work of each of said cylinder means and motor means is completed before the next succeeding means can operate, said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a first sequence during a first phase of operation, means for reversing the flow of fluid in said fluid system, said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a second sequence during a second phase of operation, and switch means to initate operation of said fluid system.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which the application of fluid under pressure for controlling the sequence of operation during the second phase is the force induced by the weight carried by said boom means being transmitted through the first, second and third cylinder means.
 3. In an automatic bale transfer apparatus having a post, a mast rotatably mounted on said post, a boom swingably mounted at one end on said mast, a dipstick freely swingably mounted on the opposite end of said boom; the improvement comprising an automatic sequentially operated fluid system including first and second fluid cylinder means mounted in end-to-end relationship with each other and connecting said boom and said mast for swinging said boom in a generally vertical direction, each of said first and second cylinder means being independently operable for swinging said boom substantially through its entire vertical movement, bale-clamping means mounted on said dipstick, third fluid cylinder means for operating said bale-clamping means, fluid motor means mounted on one of said post and mast for rotating said mast relative to said post, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid system, means for operating said first, second and third fluid cylinder means and said fluid motor means in a manner that the work of each of said cylinder means and motor means is completed before the next succeeding means can operate, said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a first sequence during a first phase of operation, means for reversing the flow of fluid in said fluid system, and said first, second and third cylinder means and said motor means operating in a second sequence during a second phase of operation, so that said boom will be lowered and the bale will be clamped, raised and transferred to a different position during the first phase of operation and the bale will be lowered and released and the apparatur returned to its original position during the second phase of operation. 